Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 36.djvu/74

 against rationalism, and after his secession he denounced it and ‘acatholic’ science generally in unmeasured terms (cf. his sermon The Rule of Faith, London, 888, 8vo; The Temporal Mission of the Holy Ghent, cc. ii.and the chapter on ‘The Gift of the Understanding’ in The Internal Mission of the Holy Ghost). Nevertheless he was a member of the Metaphysical Society, before which in 1871 he read a paper on 'The Relation of the Will to Thought,' published in the ‘Contemporary Review,’ vol. xvi. He also published in pamphlet form in 1872, London, 8vo, a paper on ‘The Dæmon of Socrates,’ read before the Royal Institution; and in the ‘Contemporary Review’ for November 1876 criticised Mr. Kirkman's ‘Philosophy without Assumptions’ from the point of new of St. Thomas Aquinas (see Miscellanies, vols. i. and ii.) A tract entitled ‘Religio Viatoris,’ published in 1887, London, 8vo (later editions 1888 and 1890), contains a summary statement of the philosophical basis of his faith. An article entitled ‘The Church its Own Witness,’ contributed to the ‘North American Review’ in September 1888 (Miscellanies, vol. iii.), is a favourable example of his apologetic method. His Roman catholic writings breathe a spirit of large charity towards those born without the pale of the Roman church. The people of England, he held, had never deliberately rejected the faith, but bad been robbed of it by their rulers; but he had no hope of their speedy return to the true fold. He anticipated the eventual extinction of the protestant religion throughout the world, to followed by a mighty struggle between the papacy and the forces of revolution (cf. England Christendam, pp. 92 et seq.; Miscellanies, i. 75 et seq., iii. 285 et seq., 305 et seq.)

Manning published numerous separate sermons besides those mentioned in the text, and seven 'Charges' delivered at the ordinary visitations of the archdeaconry of Chichester, 1841-3, 1845-6, and 1848-9. He also collected the chief sermons preached before his conversion (1842-50) in 4 vols. 8vo. Subsequently appeared ‘Sermons on Ecclesiastical Subjects, with an Introduction on the Relations of England to Christianity,’ Dublin, 1863-73, 8 vols. 8vo, and ‘Miscellanies,’ 1877-88, 8 vols. 8vo, which include his chief articles in magazines. 'Pastime Papers,' a collection of literary essays, papers posthumously, London, 8vo, 183. His more important works have been translated into French, German, and Italian. The following volumes of selections have also appeared: ‘Thoughts for those that Mourn,’ London, 1848, 16mo; ‘Devotional Readings,' Frome Selwood, 1868, 16mo; ‘Characteristics, Political, Philosophical, and Religious’ (ed. W. S. Lilly), London, 1886, 8vo; ‘Towards Evening,' London, 1887, l6mo.



MANNING, JAMES (1781–1886), serjeant-at-law, born in 1781, was son of James Manning; unitarian minister, Exeter, by Lydia, daughter of John Edge of Bristol. He early acquired a familiarity with history, antiquities, and the European languages, was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn 28 June 1817, and went the western circuit, of which he was for many years the leader.